I appreciate the solutions to the problem of cancellation and the suppression of free speech advocated by Professor Abbot. However, as a professor at a liberal public university, I would argue that much of what is going on in the universities is far less sensational and more nuanced, but no less insidious. Most of the faculty in my depar…
I appreciate the solutions to the problem of cancellation and the suppression of free speech advocated by Professor Abbot. However, as a professor at a liberal public university, I would argue that much of what is going on in the universities is far less sensational and more nuanced, but no less insidious. Most of the faculty in my department, for example, have been relentless in their pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for over a year now based on the theory (not fact) that systemic racism permeates the university system. Among other things, this includes establishing an internal bias reporting system (there is already a university-wide reporting system) and massively changing the admissions criteria (moving away from merit-based to “holistic” admissions). As a result, the departmental (and university) climate is one of fear and intimidation.
If you really want to fight against this toxic ideology, it’s not going to be with outrage at the latest cancelled professor. What we need are resources to help faculty like me argue against these divisive DEI initiatives and for parents and students to start speaking up against what is going on at woke universities, leading with their pocketbooks.
Nope, what will change this is the failure of poorly qualified individuals (who were promoted for their diversity and not for their ability) in the workplace and the reality that we have embedded mediocrity into the American fabric.
And now Merrick Garland just announced DOJ will begin investigating parents at school board meetings as potential domestic terrorists as they fight critical race theory …Americans need to wake up- this is scary government overreach and an abusive use of DOJ as extension of Biden administration to strong arm Americans- I am a democrat and I am very freaked out by the Democratic Party overreach.
What I read was DOJ was going to investigate violence that is occurring in local school boards. I don't see how that works, since its a state/local issue, but there has been a lot of over the top behavior at school boards. Too many people seem to feel that aggressive behavior is all right. This isn't a left or right issue.
It isn't a left/right issue but an right/wrong issue. Our federal government has no right to interfere in local school board meetings. Through Mr. Garland, Mr. Biden is weaponizing agencies designed to protect us from actual terrorists against parents in order to intimidate them into silence. That is the most horrifying use of our federal agencies that I have ever seen. They are attempting to coerce people to self-censor out of fear of persecution by federal agencies. Our first amendment rights are being trampled upon. This regime is evil.
As an aside, Mr Garland's family (son-in'-law)makes a tidy living off of CRT so it financially benefits him to shut down any pushback against it. Evil.
Good luck - now the DOJ will be using the FBI on unruly parents -funny how you can riot - loot - follow officials into bathrooms etc - yet don’t act up at a school board meeting- our country is broken !
You ask some tough questions, M. BP. What You're fighting against is a political movement that started around '80 or '81. It came OUTTA Academia, starting around 2005, if I understand correctly.
Then BLM started to pile on. THen Kendi and DiAngelo made their fortunes promoting pure garbage. The 1119 Project signified the NYT was taken over by these people.
Step by incremental step they, for the most part, have taken OVER Academia. By virtue of the fact that the majority of the STUDENTS are woke. When the Administrators first started giving in to the STUDENTS on all manor of stupidity? Dunno.
But You see in this post what happens when people go against what-i-call "The Narrative."
Now K - 12 KIDS are getting indoctinated in this stuff.
Right now the only "tools" available are a heapload of courage to go against all this. Me? I don't recommend that, as people need to make a living. I don't.
My OPINION is that You may already know people in Your position. If so, start firming up those connections and work towards the idea that if ONE of You is gonna be a human sacrifice for this Woke Religion, You can ACT en masse against it. If You get put in a position like M. Klein talked about lately https://bariweiss.substack.com/p/why-i-am-suing-ucla then You'll have better luck if six-a You walk out in mass. Then much more likely to be reinstated quickly, right?
But You NAILED it with what to DO about it when You said to hit these @&!#% in the WALLET. Unfortunately, a lotta people don't notice much that doesn't effect them that way.
You are right in that this ideology has been percolating in universities for a while now, but I will say that it's been on turbo drive since George Floyd. The major difference is that the ideology is no longer relegated to just the humanities, but rather ALL aspects of the university have been infiltrated. I've been a professor since the early 2000's and I've never seen anything like this. Quite frankly, It's terrifying.
And you are also right in that I am constrained by the fact that I need to make a living, as I only have my salary to rely on. I have already reached out to two other likeminded colleagues, who are just as horrified as I am about what is going on. However, we are in the minority; everyone else has hopped on the bandwagon (or are at least pretending to). Thus, even if we did speak out, I don't think we are likely to change the tide, especially since these folks can't be reasoned with.
I really think that the only way this can be stopped is to hit them where it counts: the pocketbook. That would get the administrators attention fast. But as it is, they can get away with it because they know that parents will keep handing them their hard earned money.
Don't even CONTEMPLATE speaking out with just the three of You. IMHO, best to just keep searching for others of Your mind. And don't even THINK about turning the tide. RESISTANCE will be best You can do for a (long?) while.
I appreciate the solutions to the problem of cancellation and the suppression of free speech advocated by Professor Abbot. However, as a professor at a liberal public university, I would argue that much of what is going on in the universities is far less sensational and more nuanced, but no less insidious. Most of the faculty in my department, for example, have been relentless in their pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for over a year now based on the theory (not fact) that systemic racism permeates the university system. Among other things, this includes establishing an internal bias reporting system (there is already a university-wide reporting system) and massively changing the admissions criteria (moving away from merit-based to “holistic” admissions). As a result, the departmental (and university) climate is one of fear and intimidation.
If you really want to fight against this toxic ideology, it’s not going to be with outrage at the latest cancelled professor. What we need are resources to help faculty like me argue against these divisive DEI initiatives and for parents and students to start speaking up against what is going on at woke universities, leading with their pocketbooks.
Nope, what will change this is the failure of poorly qualified individuals (who were promoted for their diversity and not for their ability) in the workplace and the reality that we have embedded mediocrity into the American fabric.
We, as parents, are trying to fight this at K-12 school board meetings. Not easy.
And now Merrick Garland just announced DOJ will begin investigating parents at school board meetings as potential domestic terrorists as they fight critical race theory …Americans need to wake up- this is scary government overreach and an abusive use of DOJ as extension of Biden administration to strong arm Americans- I am a democrat and I am very freaked out by the Democratic Party overreach.
What I read was DOJ was going to investigate violence that is occurring in local school boards. I don't see how that works, since its a state/local issue, but there has been a lot of over the top behavior at school boards. Too many people seem to feel that aggressive behavior is all right. This isn't a left or right issue.
It isn't a left/right issue but an right/wrong issue. Our federal government has no right to interfere in local school board meetings. Through Mr. Garland, Mr. Biden is weaponizing agencies designed to protect us from actual terrorists against parents in order to intimidate them into silence. That is the most horrifying use of our federal agencies that I have ever seen. They are attempting to coerce people to self-censor out of fear of persecution by federal agencies. Our first amendment rights are being trampled upon. This regime is evil.
As an aside, Mr Garland's family (son-in'-law)makes a tidy living off of CRT so it financially benefits him to shut down any pushback against it. Evil.
Good luck - now the DOJ will be using the FBI on unruly parents -funny how you can riot - loot - follow officials into bathrooms etc - yet don’t act up at a school board meeting- our country is broken !
You ask some tough questions, M. BP. What You're fighting against is a political movement that started around '80 or '81. It came OUTTA Academia, starting around 2005, if I understand correctly.
Then BLM started to pile on. THen Kendi and DiAngelo made their fortunes promoting pure garbage. The 1119 Project signified the NYT was taken over by these people.
Step by incremental step they, for the most part, have taken OVER Academia. By virtue of the fact that the majority of the STUDENTS are woke. When the Administrators first started giving in to the STUDENTS on all manor of stupidity? Dunno.
But You see in this post what happens when people go against what-i-call "The Narrative."
Now K - 12 KIDS are getting indoctinated in this stuff.
Right now the only "tools" available are a heapload of courage to go against all this. Me? I don't recommend that, as people need to make a living. I don't.
My OPINION is that You may already know people in Your position. If so, start firming up those connections and work towards the idea that if ONE of You is gonna be a human sacrifice for this Woke Religion, You can ACT en masse against it. If You get put in a position like M. Klein talked about lately https://bariweiss.substack.com/p/why-i-am-suing-ucla then You'll have better luck if six-a You walk out in mass. Then much more likely to be reinstated quickly, right?
But You NAILED it with what to DO about it when You said to hit these @&!#% in the WALLET. Unfortunately, a lotta people don't notice much that doesn't effect them that way.
You are right in that this ideology has been percolating in universities for a while now, but I will say that it's been on turbo drive since George Floyd. The major difference is that the ideology is no longer relegated to just the humanities, but rather ALL aspects of the university have been infiltrated. I've been a professor since the early 2000's and I've never seen anything like this. Quite frankly, It's terrifying.
And you are also right in that I am constrained by the fact that I need to make a living, as I only have my salary to rely on. I have already reached out to two other likeminded colleagues, who are just as horrified as I am about what is going on. However, we are in the minority; everyone else has hopped on the bandwagon (or are at least pretending to). Thus, even if we did speak out, I don't think we are likely to change the tide, especially since these folks can't be reasoned with.
I really think that the only way this can be stopped is to hit them where it counts: the pocketbook. That would get the administrators attention fast. But as it is, they can get away with it because they know that parents will keep handing them their hard earned money.
Yah. The pocketbook.
Don't even CONTEMPLATE speaking out with just the three of You. IMHO, best to just keep searching for others of Your mind. And don't even THINK about turning the tide. RESISTANCE will be best You can do for a (long?) while.
Best of Serendipity to You, M. BP! :)